Collection Inventory

Series I.Republican National Convention, July 1952

Scope and Content Notes:

Ernest Hillman served as an official Pennsylvania delegate to the Republican National Convention Chicago in 1952. The Republican National Convention series includes alphabetical lists of Pittsburgh area supporters, a list of contributions, primary letters regarding Taft support (February 1952-May 1952), some clippings and printed brochures, general correspondence (telegrams, letters, printed brochures re: candidates, etc.), event material, expense statements, letters and invitations, Pennsylvania delegate lists, background material from Republican National Committee and Pennsylvania Committee on arrangements. It also includes correspondence to Hillman regarding support of Taft, MacArthur and/or Taft, Eisenhower. In addition, there is a permanent roll of delegates, programs, membership cards, song sheets, badges, buttons, certificates, tickets, invitations, and guest cards.

Box 1

Folder

1

Ernest Hillman Certificate of Election, May 5, 1952

On May 15, 1952, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania certified Hillman as an official delegate to Republican National Convention; he received 25,213 votes.

The Taft for President Alpha Files series detail Hillman's leadership and participation in the local Citizens' Committee for Bob Taft and the committee's role in the national political scene. Material related to the Republican National Convention in July 1952 is included and is particularly interesting. The ephemera collected at the convention and from other local events add a colorful dimension to the files.

Hillman served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Citizens' Committee for Bob Taft for Allegheny County in 1952. The Taft committee files include much correspondence, especially copies of letters to various persons involved locally, statewide, and nationally with Senator Taft's efforts to become the Republican nominee for President. Files document events and also include notes, speeches, clippings, detailed event preparation, issue information, fund raising efforts, as well as some original letters from and signed by many notable historical figures such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Robert A. Taft, for example.

Brochures and statements by Taft and others re: campaign, letters, contributions, Taft's speaking schedule for the ticket, pamphlets and brochures, text of Nixon's "Report to the Nation" (9-24-52), letter to Hillman signed by Dwight Eisenhower (7-26-52), Nixon address "The Great Issue of Our Times" (5-24-51), Taft's "Statement in Support of the Candidacy of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower: The Issues of the Campaign"; Republican Executive Committee of Allegheny County's "Dwight D. Eisenhower-Richard M. Nixon: The Choice of a Nation"; publicity comic book highlighting Ike's and Nixon's lives.

The General Political Files series covers a broad array of activities and years, beginning in the 1940s. These files include not only Hillman's term as Allegheny County Commissioner (1947-1951), but also subsequent years, during which he continued to be politically active in the community and nationally, until his death in the late 1960s. The files include letters to and from governors and political leaders of Pennsylvania, as well as other state and national political figures, varying political topics and organizations, correspondence to and from constituents and other community leaders, and invitations and material regarding events attended. Included are speeches given by Hillman, especially while he was County Commissioner, news releases, and clippings and brochures on current issues. This group of political files is an interesting documentation of an active and significant Republican community leader during the 1940s through the 1960s in local, state and national Republican politics.

Folder

65

Ernest Hillman's Appointment to Allegheny County Commissioner

Includes certificate authorized by the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County recognizing Hillman to serve as a member of the Board of County Commissioner, certified and dated 11-14-47. (Hillman was appointed to fill the unexpired term of John S. Herron, deceased.); Oath of Office certification attached; copies of unsigned affidavit indicating Hillman as registered elector of Allegheny County in Nov. 1943. (He voted for John S. Herron, at that time Republican candidate for County Commissioner.)

The Correspondent Name Index contains entries for persons not explicitly mentioned in the Contents List. Use the box and folder information cited by each name to locate that individual's correspondence with Hillman.

The six scrapbooks, dated between 1946-1959, were added to the collection in September 2012. They mainly comprise newsclippings of Hillman's activities in the Republican party. They also contain mementos and other personal items reflecting his interests and personal activities.